The House Next Door (Part One)
When I first moved in, this house was owned by an elderly man named Carl. Back then the house was yellow and rather shabby and a bit of a ramshackle. The entire property was covered in large pines and Gary Oak trees. I loved that house and Carl only added to the feeling of mystique and warmth to the place. He was definitely a character and always had time for spot of tea. Near the end, and by the time I knew him, the house was just far too large for him to look after and he made his living quarters in one room in the basement. Everyday a lady would come by to make sure he was ok. They had been friends for years and she would say, "That stubborn old coot has no business living alone anymore." She herself was 92!
The inside of the house was beyond description. He had all these gargoyles and doll faces that he had painted and mounted throughout the house. Of course as the years passed his eyesight began to fail and the paint he applied was crude to say the least. They were the kind of thing that could give a person nightmares. He also collected small parlour pianos and almost every room had at least one. On the top floor was a ballroom and at one time during the home's heyday it hosted grand parties for the city's socialites. Touring the house was like stepping back in time and much like wandering through an old abandoned farm house. Everything was left in its place but neglected.
This is the view from my bedroom window and when Carl lived there you could not see the house for the trees. I miss those trees. Why buy property with trees if you are only going to cut them down?
The picture below is taken from the side street and again you would have not been able to see the house from here when I first moved in.
Sadly, Carl's life came to an end on a downtown street in Victoria. He was out for a walk when his body gave out and he simply sat down on the sidewalk and died. It was many hours before someone finally went to see if he needed help. All day long people passed on by thinking he was just a homeless old drunk. Is that not a sad commentary of life in a faceless city?
I often wonder what I would have done. Unfortunately, I probably would have walked on by. What about you? Would you stop?
***Except for the manner in which he was left and ignored I can only hope that I too will leave this world while out on a walk someday. Sounds like a pretty good way to go. Active to the end.
18 comments:
I would hardly say your city is a "faceless" city. When ever I come to town, I see at least two or three familiar faces and at least one person I know when I'm wondering around town. Needless to say, that would be bad to die and people thinking you were just a drunk.
What a lovely house and a fantastic story of the history of the place. It does hurt to think of an old person sitting unattended on a sidewalk for that long. I can't honestly say what I would have done. I like to think I would have checked on him, but of course I am speculating and depending on the circumstances of the day, well who knows?
I think that you have honoured Carl today with this story.
And I would not have cut down any trees either!
Small town teacher I meant "faceless" in the sense that we do not see the individual person behind the panhandling sign but instead see only a label.
Leazwell, I would like to think I would have stopped too but then I think of the countless times a week I walk on by the people living in the doorways downtown.
Barbara, I think maybe it was unfair question and I may have touched a nerve, one that people would rather not explore. Carl was great. He is really the only neighbour I have known in this neighbourhood directly beyond saying a passing hello to. Well, I knew the next owners but it was not nearly as nice as knowing Carl. Tomorrow's post!
I think if we are meant to notice a person, we will. I will give you a case in point.
I was waiting in one of those glass bus shelters on a busy street early evening in the middle of the winter.. Darkish outside lots of people in front of me waiting for bus as well... Only I saw an old man across the street fall on the ice... He got back up moved forward and I looked away... I looked back he had fallen again.
All those people in front of me did not see this. I waded through the crowd, ran across the street and checked on him. There was blood coming out his nose and he could not get back up. He was right infront of a bank. But no one was around, not even bank customers. I ran into the bank and told the employees a man needed help and to call 911.
The manager helped the man (whom he knew) into the bank. I left to catch my bus.
I think I was tapped on the shoulder to help that man get help.
If it had been 'his time' would anyone have noticed? No way of answering that.
with all the traveling etc. that I've done I would say I probably wouldn't notice, although Barbara makes a good point, so I would like to think I would see someone like that.
actually it's probably better that they thinned the trees out, 1 more people get to enjoy the house and 2 it helps the trees to grow stronger and better, they aren't fighting for light etc.
Barbara, that's kind of a nice way of thinking about it. I liked your idea that someone tapped you on the shoulder.
Junky, you and I will never agree on the tree thing. They cut them down and put in pavement. Agh! I don't think I would notice either in part when I'm walking I usually listening to my iPod or with friends completely unaware of my surroundings.
no pain no struggle, i'd say its a brilliant way to go.
nice house btw.
When the soul leaves the body, it matters not what happens with the body except to the living.
It might seem he was not missed because people passed his body by. As all can see here, he was not forgotten.
WS
Those are gorgeous pics. That house reminds me of the heritage houses here that I admire on my bike ride. They just don't make them like that anymore.
The sad thing is that people are scared to intervene these days and don't know what they're getting into. On the way to the show tonight we were approached by a homeless guy with his cup out and I actually joked with him and asked if he'd share with me. I think he liked that we talked to him. Then we threw a loonie in there (only to be quickly approached by another guy!).
Rats! I wrote out my comments and now it's telling me it could not be processed and I have to try again. Sorry guys but it will just have to wait until later. Mr. Blogger is making me cranky!
Hey Toccata. Beautiful house. My aunt is 92 and lives alone in a fairly big house originally ordered from a Sear's catalog when they sold houses. She would never last anywhere else.
I wouldn't have probably walked by - only because I still live and work in small towns. If I was in Chicago, different story.
And that wouldn't be the worst way or place to go.
Boo, I always describe my place as the small scruffy stucco house next door to the gorgeous mansion!
Deb, there's one homeless man around here, Bert, probably not his real name but he used to have a Sesame Street character on his shopping cart that I know. He's been here ever since I have and he always has a cat. He will let me give him cat food but for whatever reason he won't except food for himself. He never tethers the cat so you know the cats stay by choice.
Have to run sorry, will finish later.
Wayward son, very true but even knowing that it's sometimes difficult to accept.
Busterp, I never knew you could at one time order a house from Sears. If she lives anywhere near you, you have got to take a picture. I would love to see what the house looks like.
I have actually stopped in similar situations, but I wouldn't blame someone for not stopping. You see that sort of thing all the time in the city.
Also, that house is amazing.
interesting....would i stop?....depends where i was, what he looked like etc?If you are use to seeing people sitting around, on steps, against walls, wherever, then another one might just blend in but if its unusual then he would be noticed...i would stop if i really thought there was a concern,
Justacoolcat, in Victoria we have so many living on the streets that waking them seems rude. I would never force a person to leave the little warmth they have found on the other hand you don't know what you'll encounter and I think there is a definite fear factor there.
Kelly, welcome back. Knowing Carl he would have blended right in. He was never one to dress up and dressed more like a man working the land than an executive type.
I've stopped in situations like this. The dificult call here would be whether I recognized him as not being one of the homeless because I have to admit- them I tend to turn away (see post on my blog).
I once offered a very confused older man a ride back to his neighbourhood. (He was lost and going the wrong way.) He wouldn't accept the lift, so I spent a half hour driving in circles to make sure that he was going the right way.
BTW, I loved the house. Photographing old houses is one of my hobbies.
Any chance you could post more pics? Perhaps the sort that give you a larger version when you click on them?
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